History YMMV / StephanieMcMahon

* WinBackTheCrowd: Despite her continuing legacy of sparking in-character hatred, Stephanie's real-world ascension to CEO of WWE was met with almost universal support after fan approval of her father wore away to a state of functional nonexistence by the time he retired. Immediately after taking the helm, her first appearance on [=SmackDown=] as official head of the company was met with a huge babyface ovation.

* EvilIsSexy: Upon her FaceHeelTurn at the end of 1999, and specifically during the [=McMahon=]-Helmsley Era, Stephanie frequently wore flattering minidresses and short skirts, or else showing lots more cleavage. Notably she got [[BuxomBeautyStandard breast implants]] during this period. And her entrance video had several clips of her in a tight black leather outfit, with one or two shots highlighting her figure.

* EvilIsSexy: Upon her FaceHeelTurn at the end of 1999, and specifically during the [=McMahon=]-Helmsley Era, Stephanie frequently wore flattering minidresses and short skirts, or else showing lots more cleavage. Notably she got [[BuxomIsBetter breast implants]] during this period. And her entrance video had several clips of her in a tight black leather outfit, with one or two shots highlighting her figure.

* JerkassWoobie: Her current AlphaBitch character makes it easy to forget that she's been on the receiving end of trauma and humiliation for ''years'' now. Her initial {{Heel}} run as part of the [=McMahon=]-Helmsey Faction Her run as the GM of Smackdown had her [[TheAtoner try to turn over a new leaf]] and become a nicer person, only to be met with constant abuse from her very own father. This all culminated in a grueling Street Fight match with Vince, which had him [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beat the stuffing out of her]] before choking poor Stephanie out with a lead pipe.

* HollywoodPudgy: Stephanie's own weight was commented upon when she made her last few appearances prior to Wrestling/{{the Authority}} run. Of course, that's ''post-three children''. Ah, wrestling. People on the Website/{{Usenet}} newsgroup [=rec.sport.pro-wrestling=] had even been making jokes about her body well ''before'' she ever had kids. Of course, this was partially due to how unpopular she was in general. Before the HHH-[[Wrestling/CharlesWright The Godfather]] match on the [[http://slashwrestling.com/smackdown/000316.html March 16, 2000]] ''[=SmackDown!=]'', the Godfather told Stephanie that there might be a place for her in the Ho Train, but it would be in the caboose. Stephanie now averts this, as [[http://www.pwpix.net/superstars/s/stephaniemcmahon/gallery/workout-time/01.php these pictures demonstrate]].

%%* EvilIsSexy: And how!

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Back during her first heel run in the early 2000s, particularly during the height of the [=McMahon=]-Helmsley Regime, Stephanie did get some hatred from smarks for taking up screen time and benefiting through Vince's favoritism, but she wasn't quite as maligned back then because she typically got humiliated by guys like The Rock or Chris Jericho. So in that era, the backlash against her wasn't as bad. But in the 2010s, under Wrestling/TheAuthority, she's reached a new level of audience apathy and revulsion because she's seen as having all of those negative traits, propped up by Vince's nepotism, with little to none of the comeuppance a Rock or Jericho would deliver onto her.
* HilariousInHindsight: During her run as Women's champ, she had a shirt on for her appearances that had her initials printed on it, meaning Stephanie [=McMahon=]-Helmsley had [[MemeticMutation smh]] printed across her chest.
* HollywoodPudgy:
** "Wrestling/MollyHolly has a big ass," anyone?
** Stephanie's own weight was commented upon when she made her last few appearances prior to Wrestling/{{the Authority}} run. Of course, that's ''post-three children''. Ah, wrestling. People on the Website/{{Usenet}} newsgroup [=rec.sport.pro-wrestling=] had even been making jokes about her body well ''before'' she ever had kids. Of course, this was partially due to how unpopular she was in general. Before the HHH-[[Wrestling/CharlesWright The Godfather]] match on the [[http://slashwrestling.com/smackdown/000316.html March 16, 2000]] ''[=SmackDown!=]'', the Godfather told Stephanie that there might be a place for her in the Ho Train, but it would be in the caboose. Stephanie now averts this, as [[http://www.pwpix.net/superstars/s/stephaniemcmahon/gallery/workout-time/01.php these pictures demonstrate]].
*** FunnyAneurysmMoment: "Muffy," the evil fitness trainer character. See the ''[=WrestleCrap=]'' item on the Trivia page.
* LoveToHate: When she's at her best, she's very good at getting this reaction (she learned from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon one of the best]]). Unfortunately, in TheNewTens years her chronic KarmaHoudini status tends to make people [[XPacHeat just hate her]].

* TakeThatScrappy: It seems to have become tradition for her to get some comeuppance at ''Wrestlemania''. Aside from the example at 32, she got humiliated by Ronda Rousey at 31 and, at 33, got knocked off the apron and through a table when Wrestling/SethRollins sidekicked her husband into her.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: When you're such a HateSink, yet almost never get any LaserGuidedKarma for CatharsisFactor payoffs, your feuds and screentime are pretty much guaranteed to suffer from this.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: When you're such a HateSink, yet almost never get any LaserGuidedKarma for CatharsisFactor payoffs, your feuds and screentime are pretty much guaranteed to suffer from this.
** On the {{Face}} side, her 2003 feud with Daddy when she was the ''[=SmackDown=]'' GM. She'd finally had enough of his crap and decided to stand up to him... only to consequently be CurbStompBattle'd by several big-time {{Wrestling Monster}}s on his payroll. Ultimately, Vince challenged her to an "I Quit" match where the loser would be fired... which she lost — and not from any fault of her own, but from Linda (in Steph's corner) finally having enough and literally throwing in the towel. And worst of all? It's been heavily implied that said TraumaCongaLine eventually resulted in Steph finally breaking down and becoming the sycophantic HateSink that she is today — meaning that she didn't even get to be a DoomedMoralVictor. Basically, the whole thing was just unpleasant — with the only consolation being Wrestling/TheUndertaker later retaliating via ColdBloodedTorture on Vince in a Buried Alive match (but even then, Vince ultimately won due to Kane's interference). This by some ironic twist was among the few times that not only was Steph at the relentless end of a feud to the very end, but Vince actually pulled TheBadGuyWins to at least some level.

* XPacHeat: [[SlutShaming "STEPHIE SWALLOWS!"]] [[ReallyGetsAround "STEPHIE SWALLOWS!"]] [[RuleOfThree "STEPHIE SWALLOWS!"]]

* ReplacementGoldfish: Is seen as this for Chyna by many fans. Chyna was no longer affiliated with Triple H (Kayfabe-wise) toward the end of 99, going into the [[HostileShowTakeover McMahon-Helmsley Era]]. Chyna was no longer a part of DX and instead replaced by Stephanie as HHH's significant other and [[TheChick chick]]. Outside of Involvement with DX, many fans have noted [[https://shydaydreamer28.tumblr.com/post/611186545032151040/stephanie-mcmahon-chyna-jr-lol the similarities with Stephanie seemingly emulating Chyna]]. Nowadays, she's commonly referred to by many as "Chyna 2.0."

* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: With Triple H by many male fans, usually running into UglyGuyHotWife. Stephanie is advertised as "Every man's fantasy" and has been a source of much {{Fanservice}} over the years with her outfits. Her looks combined with her riches, have many fanboys wondering why a woman of her caliber with infinite options would go for Triple H or "Triple Nose" as commonly nicknamed. But this is certainly a varied opinion. Neither has ever been advertised or written in Kayfabe as intended unattractive. In fact, both are a fansservice goldmine. It's just many males fans love Stephanie, many female fans love HHH, and as a result fangirls & fanboys think their respective crushes could do better. Many female fans have been shown to find Triple H very handsome, he gets good pops & squeals when he removes his shirt, plenty have gushed about him on social media, and even some of the NXT talent has expressed thought of him being attractive. Ember Moon once stated that he'd be her man if she wasn't married. In turn, the reverse of the trope gets seen by many where they can't [[HotGuyUglyWife understand what he sees in Stephanie]]. Some have expressed belief she's average in terms of looks, especially without makeup and there are some who have noted that she looks like Vince in a wig nowadays.

** On the {{Face}} side, her 2003 feud with Daddy when she was the ''[=SmackDown=]'' GM. She'd finally had enough of his crap and decided to stand up to him... only to consequently be CurbStompBattle'd by several big-time {{Wrestling Monster}}s on his payroll. Ultimately, Vince challenged her to an "I Quit" match where the loser would be fired... which she lost — and not from any fault of her own, but from Linda (in Steph's corner) finally having enough and literally throwing in the towel. And worst of all? It's been heavily implied that said TraumaCongaLine eventually resulted in Steph finally breaking down and becoming the sycophantic HateSink that she is today — meaning that she didn't even get to be a DoomedMoralVictor. Basically, the whole thing was just unpleasant AdultFear — with the only consolation being Wrestling/TheUndertaker later retaliating via ColdBloodedTorture on Vince in a Buried Alive match (but even then, Vince ultimately won due to Kane's interference). This by some ironic twist was among the few times that not only was Steph at the relentless end of a feud to the very end, but Vince actually pulled TheBadGuyWins to at least some level.